Salman Butt the former Pakistan captain has praised India’s batting against England in the first innings ongoing test in Nottingham. He felt that India being the visitors can win this first test comfortably if they bowl well and restrict Joe Root and his team to the lowest total possible.
India has scored 278 runs in the first innings in the ongoing Test against England in Nottingham after resuming at 125 for 4 at the end of day 2. KL Rahul the opener in the Indian innings was the leading run-scorer in India’s first innings. He scored 84 runs from 214 balls which put India in a very good position in the context of the game.
Salman highlighted the weakness in England batting if the Indian bowlers can use conditions to their advantage.
Salman Butt said “India’s come back was because of their never-say-die attitude they have developed in recent years. There lesser-experienced guys like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant stood up. India tried their best and everybody pitched in to get that 95-run lead. Now it is up to the bowlers and it all depends on how they respond to the situation”.
“Presently England are 25 for no loss. But the pitch is such, and under overcast conditions, the ball seems so much that wickets fall in groups of two or three. If someone among Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, or Shardul Thakur can come up with a good spell, then anything is possible. If someone can claim 3-4 wickets in a spell and the other can you chip in with a couple… if England’s lead does not go over 200, then it is very much possible for India to win this match”, he added.
Salman Butt further added that India has a great chance to start with a victory s a majority of star English cricketers aren’t playing. He said India can only lose if ‘they play below their standard’.
Salman also said “Once you are up with a good start in a five-Test series, and it is not easier for the other side to come back, especially when their resources are limited. Remember, there is no Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, or Mark Wood. With the present lot that England have unless India plays cricket which is below their standard, the visitors should be able to beat the Englishmen”.
England were 25 for no loss in the second innings o the ongoing test match against India. Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley scored 11 and 9 runs respectively before the rain-interrupted and forced them to close the day’s play.
